Students write thank you letters to Odessa police officers ahead of 9/11 anniversary

Odessa police officers received a very special delivery one day before the 21st anniversary of 9/11, when a local teacher delivered letters of appreciation from her students.

Chere Tone, who teaches culinary arts at New Tech Odessa/Advanced Technical Center, said she and her students recently took time to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001. On that tragic day, 2,507 civilians, 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel lost their lives when airplanes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and in a field in Shanksville, Pa.

“Since none of my students were even born yet, they do not truly understand the impact of that day,” Tone stated in a letter to the OPD. “Each of my students were glad to write thank you letters to you, our local first responders, to thank you for your hard work and how much they appreciate what you do for us on a daily basis.”

She added, “As their teacher, I am very proud to deliver them to you.”

The Odessa Police Department expressed gratitude to the teacher and her students.

“We never take our community support for granted!,” the OPD posted on Facebook. “Thank you, thank you.”